Going to New Mexico

Ok, I'm so nervous I can't stand it. I've never been further west than St. Louis, Missouri. We have to go to help Jim's dad out with something to do with his RV business.......needs some computer help so I was volunteered so to say. Anyway, we'll be leaving June 28th and coming back July 9th, just enough time for me to rest one day and drive to TN with the kids on July 11th. By the time I get home Aug 11th, I'll need a vacation from vacation..........lol

I'm really bumming though as I wanted to visit some people in TX if we went to NM, especially Aimee, and since this is so short notice and we really didn't plan on it, we won't have time to stop anywhere :(

Do wish us a safe journey........I know it's still like 9 days away, but I'm so nervous already that I just feel sick to my stomach :)

I do have plans, if all goes well and I can save the money, to take a road trip next year in the spring perhaps and visit a few people and Aimee for sure ;)

Where in New Mexico are you going, Susan? I will pray for you to have a safe, refreshing and successful trip.

Alamagordo.......not sure if I spelled that right :)

That's in the southern part of the state -- not too far from White Sands National Monument. It's pretty desert-y down there, take very cool clothes.

I'll be packing a bit of both clothing as I heard it gets cold in the desert at night.......beats me, never been there.......lol

Good luck with your trip - hope all goes really well!
......and enjoy planning next year's too, that's half the fun :)

I don't think it'll really sink in all the way until the day we will leave. Thank goodness for hillbilliebo who will watch my doggies for me while I'm gone. I can just see a 3 day trip with 3 dogs and not being able to get a hotel room :(
She is a life saver for me right now!! Thanks again Tracy

Waaaaaaah! So close, and so far away. I will certainly be praying for your safe journey, while I cry about my bad luck. I will be preparing for your visit, and pulling for your savings account so you can come to Texas. Hurry!!!!

flowox: That is a beautiful area. If you get a chance to sight-see while there, don't miss Ruidoso and Cloudcroft. They are not far from Alamogordo. You'll be wanting to move to New Mexico. Have a safe trip.
Bill

Hey Flowox! You are going to see some of the most fantastic scenery you can imagine. In fact, if you have never been west of St. Louis, you can't imagine! It is so different and so incredibly beautiful. The sky is amazing, and the desert is so quiet. I always feel like I have entered a very spiritual place when I am in a desert, especially mountainous ones. Anyway I think you will probably have a great time. My dad was never west of the Mississippi until his 60's and he loved it. He was like a kid in Disneyland, couldn't take his eyes off the amazing scenery. I look forward to hearing your report on your return. Bet you see some really neat and unusual plants too.

P.S. This is a current thread isn't it? You really are going to the Southwest, aren't you?

Yes, she is! I'm trying to find a way to go West!

Yes NoH2O, I am going west...........lol
In 7 more days.........counting down. I've never seen an open sky like you explain and like Aimee told me on the phone and I've never in my life have seen a desert so this ought to be quite an experience. I'll be taking the camera and the camcorder so I won't miss a thing.......lol

Yes, plenty of pictures. And don't forget to go out at night and look at the stars. You have never seen a big sky and a deep universe like that. It seems like the stars go on forever, as if there was no end to space. I think it's the reason people go camping. Not being a morning person, I wouldn't normally be nice at dawn, but to wake up under those stars makes it impossible not to be in a good frame of mind. Okay, you don't have to sleep out there, just get up before the sun comes up and treat yourself to a bit of it. A cup of tea will knock off the chill and you can bundle up.

Well maybe if Jim stays out there with me I'll be alright as I amd just a chicken in the dark. I've been afraid of the dark ever since I was a child and still am but am ok if I'm not alone. Ok, you can all laugh now........lol
And to really get you rolling...............I've never "really" been camping either. Sure, I've been to a campground in a "camper" and there were facilities, but actual camping, I've never done before :)

flow, have a safe trip. you're getting closer and closer to me......you probably could have come here if we had thought about it and planned it......

If you decide to camp, I want to be there! I love feeling like I can survive in the wilderness, but I do take a number of things from my civilized world. I have two tents, one a dome and small and the other two rooms and large. I don't have a good sleeping bag, but it's possible to sleep on a lot less than you think when you're camping. I've heard that the Indians went to sleep on the ground, and when it started to feel hard, they knew they had slept long enough. New goal: go camping with Flowox.

For this trip, just relax. Remember, most of the things you are afraid of in the dark are more afraid of you. Take a stick and beat the ground ahead of you. Snakes will leave before you get anywhere close to them when they feel the impact of the stick through the earth. Carry a candle or a flashlight, which will frighten off other wildlife. Most of them are harmless, but they can make your heart beat too fast if you encounter them unexpectedly. Once you reach your destination, put down a blanket or even a spread newspaper to sit on. Check to be sure you aren't sitting on top of the home of some creature before putting it down. Wildlife will avoid you, especially this time of year.

The best views of the night sky are far away from any city or house lights so try to go for a drive to the country for an evening of night lights from heaven.

Have fun. And welcome to the west!

From what I hear from Jim's mom, they are pretty much out in nowhere........lol.........she did say that she can see the space center from her backyard though :)
Will definately have to go there and she's taking me to some cove of some sort (forget the name) where the hummingbirds fly around like bees do. Can't wait to see that!!

You just had to mention snakes, didn't you Aimee? Although I'm not too afraid of them and can handle them since I had one before, I'm not too fond of crossing paths with a rattler and would probably poop my pants........lol

Ok, goal is set: Go camping with Aimee. Now I really have to buckle down and save money for a road trip next spring. All you gardeners out there, let me know if I can stop and visit you on my way and spend the night as I don't think I'll have money to stay in hotels along the way. If I could be put up on my way to TX, I will definately make it to Aimee's house :)

You'll have a great time -- just leave those inhibitions behind and enjoy your adventure! I've only been out west once, when I was a girl of maybe 5, when I went to Whiterose's wedding! It was in Colorado. Have fun!!

Believe me, I intend to......lol :)

flowox: Hummingbirds flying in a cove! I've missed that one. Now the thousands of bats flying out of the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns at sunset is a sight not to be missed. Also nearby is the Trinity Site (site of the first atomic bomb explosion). Tours are available. Nearby Cloudcroft is in the mountains, and is the site of the highest in altitude golf course in the nation. Let me tell you and Aimee about my camping experience at Cloudcroft when my two girls were young in the early 70's. We were tent camping and had gotten settled in for the evening at an area suggested by the local folks, when a car stopped and the driver said "Is this where we see the bears?!!" I replied, "I sure hope not." We found out later that the city dump site was at the end of the road and the black bears came to get in the trash. Long story short, we didn't see any bears but plenty of chipmunks and the early morning dew on the fir trees and pines is one of my fondest memories.

This message was edited Sunday, Jun 22nd 3:06 PM

Amiee, Flowox, Coleman has a reall nice air bed. $20 for a single size plus abou ha for a baer opperaed one. A cerain ke on his board doesn' work so read as well as ou can. We'll be buing a new one ASAP.

That's what we have, Leaflady. They are really comfy.

that's it Bill Carlsbad Caverns.......lol. According to Jim's mom there are hummingbirds all over the place there just buzzing around like busy bees :)

flowox: you are welcome any time to stay here in Lindale on your trip to see Aimee and friends in Texas. This would make a good last nights stop before going on to see Aimee as Georgetown, TX is 251 miles from Lindale, all on Interstate highways. This is approximately a 4 hour and 15 minute trip. If you decided to take a short cut ( all on good Texas highways) the trip would be even shorter. Take a look on Mapquest.
Bill

This message was edited Sunday, Jun 22nd 7:37 PM

thanks so much Bill, I may very well take you up on that offer come spring :)

Susan, you are welcome to stay at my house anytime. Even though I don't think you will head my direction on either trip you are planning. sigh Someday maybe though you can come this way on your way to somewhere.

If I get a chance to do this, then I'll try to zigzag all over the place to visit people. Depends on how much money I can save up for gas.........lol

LOL you can take your trip through the states that accept pop cans for a refund and collect them along the way to pay for your gas. giggle

Flowox you will have a great time. My daughter and i spent a week in the area of Santa Fe and loved every minute. We went birding one day and saw several birds to add to my life list. The hummingbirds down there are so beautiful. Donna

Flowox, You will have a super time. DH and I spent 2 weeks last fall in Arizona, and I can't wait to go back and see New Mexico. Take lots of film - - - this is also one of those times that a panoramic camera is handy. If you don't have one, they now make one time use panoramic ones!

Another tip - - it's very very dry out there. Take mosturizing eyedrops and lots of good lotion. About the time my body adjusted to the low humidity, it was time to come home. I couldn't figure out why my eyes hurt - - and it was because they were working overtime to produce tears.

nathalyn, thanks for the tip. I will put those items on my list right now :)

5 more days..........lol

I forget that you who live in humid climates don't need to use the mosturizing lotion like we do here in the dry west. I use a large tube of it almost every week. Good advice Nat.

I am so excited for you Susan. I know you will have fun and really oogle the scenery and the plants are so different from what you have there. I will be looking forward to a full report of what you see and how you feel about it. Just like in school only no grades on it. :>)

I will have a full report when I get home for sure :)
And tons of pictures and video of it........lol

Doc says if we do decide to move there I would probably feel better with the fibro because of the lack of humidity in the air

Your post makes me wish I were going also! Maybe, I should send you a picture of me and you could take me along like a paper person. LOL

sure, send me an e-mail pic and I'll take you around to the sites I see :)

HOw exCITing, Susie! You will love it! And I know the climate would make yo feel better. But you cant let nathalyn sneak into your luggage unless can too !

I believe this trip will do you good - now no more nerves, K?

Oh, and the foooodddddddddd !

no, no, can't break the diet, unless a it's a few snacks on the road. Jim's dad is on the same diet so that will be a positive for me.

Anyone who wants to come along, send me a picture through e-mail quick :) Full view preferred and I'll take you on an excellent adventure!!

Will send picture tomorrow! But I want to sit next to Lavanda - - I'll even let HER have the window seat.